This week's Pylons question: Trade talk - What pieces can Toronto and Ottawa acquire to solidify playoff seeding?

The Leafs could use some second-line scoring - Nikolai Kulemin has been a huge disappointment, and Tim Connolly has been invisible, even when he is healthy. There's too much pressure on Kessel and Lupul to carry the team offensively every night. For the Sens, they're in uncharted water given their youth so clearly they need to get more consistent and could use some defensive help. After watching their game on Saturday, it really looks like the Leafs are hungrier and deeper, while the Sens are starting to look like a mirage. If I was a betting man, I'd say the Leafs will make the postseason but the Senators will not.

Since the eighth playoff spot in the East may come down to Toronto or Ottawa, the answer is quite simple. Just win, baby. And, oh yeah, beat the other guy on March 17. Toronto is riding a high right now, and no coincidence that they have a healthy team for the first time in weeks. That could change in a moment, just ask Ottawa. The Senators are struggling after a pretty good run early in January. Goaltending is the key for each team, as it usually is when things get serious. Neither team seems likely to make a move in that department. However, Toronto could use some more size and scoring up front and has some surplus pieces - defencemen like Mike Komisarek and Keith Aulie and forwards like Nazim Khadri - who could be packaged for some instant help without harming the chemistry. Ottawa could use some help on defence but don't expect a trade with Toronto.

Size is key for the Leafs. They have played well this year, and have solid goaltending (always important in a playoff run) but they have too many small, soft forwards. Teams like Boston, Philly and the Rangers would knock the Leafs into next season, come playoff time. Leafs need a big-time centre, ideally but a big, bruising winger would also be helpful. As for the Senators, I wouldn't trade anybody. Their run may be over and they could easily fall out of the playoff picture but I would be pleasantly surprised with the play of their youngsters this year, if I were GM. Don't panic and ride the rookies as long as you can, then make a decision in the off-season.

Aye carumba, I almost fell off my chair when I hear a Leaf fan complain about a lack of size. I'm not worried about their size - with guys like Mike Brown, Jay Rosehill, Dion Phaneuf and Mike Komisarek they've got size when they need it. Right now they're playing more skill players because they're desperate for scoring beyond Kessel and Lupul. For Ottawa, Craig Anderson has been heroic between the pipes but he's been facing a lot of rubber. If Sergei Gonchar is your top D-man you've got problems because he's a turnstile. The Leafs should trade for reliable second-line scoring so they can beef up their bottom six and the Sens need to get some defencemen who can protect Anderson.

Those players are tough, but with the exception of Phaneuf, they are role players who get little ice time. Leafs would do well to acquire a top six player with some nastiness, but he won't come cheaply. I agree about Anderson. He may be their MVP but it's not a bad idea to give him lots of work. He hasn't played much in his pro career (one year with 71 games but no more than 33 in all the others) so he is a young 30 years old and Senators might like to throw him into the deep end to see if he can grow with this mostly-young bunch.